After starting at first, Lavarnway hurts wrist

By Ian Browne and Quinn Roberts / MLB.com

BOSTON -- The excitement Ryan Lavarnway had over making his first career start at first base on Thursday was washed away by the bottom of the fifth inning, when he had to exit the game with soreness in his left wrist.

The injury was enough of a concern that Lavarnway, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, will undergo an MRI on Friday.

"He felt it on one of the swings in that first at-bat. So we'll have more tomorrow," manager John Farrell said.

Lavarnway had just the one at-bat in Boston's 4-3 win and made four putouts in his debut at first.

"It was on one of the balls I fouled straight back in my first at-bat," said Lavarnway. "I felt a pain in my hand/wrist area. I thought I would be able to play through it. Tried to stay in the game, obviously, tried to play through it. When I got in the on-deck circle for my next at-bat, when Grady [Sizemore] ended up making the last out, I was having a real difficult time swinging. So I wanted to let a healthy guy have that at-bat instead of trying to force my way in and giving them an easy out."

While his natural position is behind the plate, Lavarnway gained comfort at first base in Spring Training and played 20 games there for Pawtucket this season.

With everyday first baseman Mike Napoli on the disabled list, Mike Carp and Daniel Nava have also seen time at the position.

Papi scratched from lineup to rest sore right calf

BOSTON -- Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was scratched from Thursday's game against the Braves with right calf soreness.

"It is precautionary. We've taken him out of the lineup," manager John Farrell said. "[It is] similar to what we talked about when we were down in [St. Petersburg]. Precautionary in nature, we just have to manage the condition and the situation he's dealing with."

Ortiz pinch-hit in the eighth inning of the Red Sox's 4-3 walk-off victory, but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez elected to intentionally walk the slugger, who was then lifted for a pinch-runner.

Ortiz had the same injury at the end of Spring Training and sat out the final five games of the Grapefruit League schedule.

Ortiz's workload over the past few games has been more than normal. He started both games at first base against the Braves and legged out a single in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

"You're dealing with a lower extremity. I just think coming off the volume, David's been great in terms of the preventative maintenance and the care that he's got to go through," Farrell said. "And yet, after two full days at first base and another at DH last night, it was best to hold him out tonight."

A.J. Pierzynski, who originally had the night off, went 2-for-4 serving as Boston's DH.

Farrell expects Ortiz to start Friday's game against the Rays.

De La Rosa to take Buchholz's rotation spot

BOSTON -- Rubby De La Rosa will be the next prospect to get the chance to fill in for an ailing Red Sox starter.

The righty will get the ball for Saturday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, a turn in the rotation created when Clay Buchholz went on the disabled list with a hyperextended left knee.

For De La Rosa, who was acquired in the Aug. 25, 2012, blockbuster with the Dodgers, this will be his first start with the Red Sox. The righty did pitch in 11 games out of the bullpen for Boston last season.

In 10 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket this season, De La Rosa is 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA. Over his past two starts, De La Rosa has given up two runs over 11 innings.

Allen Webster also received strong consideration for the start.

Why did Farrell go with De La Rosa?

"The recommendation of the staff in Pawtucket," Farrell said. "You look at their numbers overall on the course of the year, they're pretty similar. The last two starts for Rubby have been strong, and that was pretty much the deciding factor."

Brandon Workman is filling Felix Doubront's spot in the starting rotation after the left-hander went on the DL on May 21 with a left shoulder sprain. Workman makes his second start of the season on Friday night.

Red Sox celebrate relationship with Jimmy Fund

Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino, along with Edward J. Benz Jr., president and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, were just a few of the people on hand to celebrate the event.

A new 3-D display in the Dana Building lobby chronicles the history of the relationship between the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund.

Along the outside of the Charles A. Dana Building is new signage, while the Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Auditorium now includes Red Sox memorabilia.

Worth noting

• Doubront, on the DL with a left shoulder strain, threw from 120 feet and on flat ground before Thursday's game against the Braves.

• Napoli participated in baseball activities Thursday. Farrell said the swelling in the slugger's left ring finger is diminishing.

• Outfielder Shane Victorino is still responding to treatment after being placed on the DL with a right hamstring strain for the second time this season.

"We don't have a date earmarked for his return," Farrell said. "This is the second time he has been dealing with this injury, so we are going to be a little bit more cautious with that."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.